Southern Squash Casserole is a widely popular dish in the South. I first tried it years ago at a restaurant in Orlando called the Black Eyed Pea and quickly became addicted. Until then, I only had yellow squash, or crookneck squash, stewed with onion, butter, salt, and pepper or dredged in cornmeal and pan-fried. Until I tried the casserole, yellow squash was not on my list of favorite foods.
Southern Squash Casserole recipes vary greatly, with some cooks adding various cheeses, garlic, sour cream, cream cheese, or cream, mayonnaise, and crushed crackers instead of breadcrumbs. I like to keep things simple, especially when cooking for the holidays.
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This recipe is reasonably straightforward. I tried to create a dish as close as possible to the one I had at the Black Eyed Peas. The secret to baking a winning casserole is in the squash. Select smaller yellow squash for your casserole. The larger the squash, the bigger the seeds.
To make a Southern Squash Casserole recipe, I mash tender yellow crookneck squash and sweet onions, then stir in sugar, breadcrumbs, butter, and eggs. Once mixed, I pour the mixture into a 2.5-quart casserole or a 9×13 baking dish and bake until golden brown. It’s tasty enough for kids to eat without knowing they’re eating squash.
I usually bake Southern Squash Casserole in a 2.5-quart dish for up to 40 minutes or until the casserole is set and the crust is golden brown. If you’re using a 9×13 baking dish, adjust baking time accordingly.
Southern Squash Casserole
Equipment
- 1 2.5-quart casserole dish
Ingredients
- 5 lbs yellow crookneck squash
- 1 medium sweet onion
- 2 cups plain breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs slighty beaten
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp plain breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Wash squash and trim ends. Cut into several pieces. Peel and slice onion. Bring a generously salted pot of water to a boil. Add squash and onion and return to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer. Cook until squash is tender. Drain well.
- In a large bowl, add squash and onion and mash. Stir in breadcrumbs, butter, sugar, and add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in eggs.
- Pour mixture into a lightly greased 2.5-quart casserole or 9 x 13 baking dish. Top with remaining breadcrumbs. Bake at 350°F until golden brown, about 40 minutes.
Nutrition
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